Connections Hints
Saturday, February 28, 2026
Words from the NYT Connections puzzle — February 28, 2026
Jump to a hint level
Show the word gridAll 16 words — you figure out the groups
Show the themesCategory names only, no words revealed
One word per groupTheme name + one word per category
Full solutionAll words and explanations
← Back to hint toolLoad any date with the interactive hint ladder
Word grid
All 16 words, sorted alphabetically. Group them into four categories of four.
COMETH
CRUISE DIRECTOR
DESIRE
EARNEST
ITCH
KNEEL
NOVAK
PILOT
ROADIE
RUSTLE
SALESMAN
START
SUNG
TAILOR
THIRST
URGE
Themes
The four category names, easiest to hardest. No words revealed yet.
CRAVINGStraightforward
JOBS THAT INVOLVE TRAVELINGModerate
NAME HOMOPHONESTricky
ASTRONOMICAL TERMS PLUS A LETTERDevious
One word per group
Theme name plus one word from each category.
CRAVINGStraightforward
WORDS FOR A STRONG WANT OR LONGING+ 3 more…
JOBS THAT INVOLVE TRAVELINGModerate
CAREERS WHERE YOU'RE RARELY IN THE SAME PLACE TWICE+ 3 more…
NAME HOMOPHONESTricky
EACH OF THESE SOUNDS LIKE A FIRST NAME WHEN SPOKEN ALOUD+ 3 more…
ASTRONOMICAL TERMS PLUS A LETTERDevious
ASTRONOMICAL WORDS WITH AN EXTRA LETTER SNUCK IN+ 3 more…
Full solution
CRAVINGStraightforward
DESIRE,ITCH,THIRST,URGE
DESIRE, ITCH, THIRST, and URGE all mean a craving or strong wanting feeling.
JOBS THAT INVOLVE TRAVELINGModerate
CRUISE DIRECTOR,PILOT,ROADIE,SALESMAN
CRUISE DIRECTOR, PILOT, ROADIE, and SALESMAN all have jobs that require constant travel as part of the role.
NAME HOMOPHONESTricky
EARNEST,KNEEL,RUSTLE,TAILOR
EARNEST sounds like Ernest, KNEEL sounds like Neil, RUSTLE sounds like Russell, and TAILOR sounds like Taylor — all homophones of personal names.
ASTRONOMICAL TERMS PLUS A LETTERDevious
COMETH,NOVAK,START,SUNG
COMETH = COMET + H, NOVAK = NOVA + K, START = STAR + T, SUNG = SUN + G — each is an astronomical term with one letter added.